US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Civilians in the ruins of Mosul city. (Maranie R. Staab)

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US-led Coalition
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Incident Code

RS196 CS151

Incident date

November 26, 2015

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.949949, 39.007363 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five to eight civilians including four children were reported killed, and 10 injured, when Russian warplanes allegedly launched several rockets on Hetten School in Raqqa, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. Ara News also blamed Russia.

Syria Press Report (citing the Syrian Observatory) placed the death toll at 12 and said the attack was by ‘warplanes unknown.’ Eldorar blamed the regime. And BBC Arabic said only that ‘international air strikes’ hit Raqqa, noting that “It is not yet known who carried out the air strikes on the capital of the “Islamic state”, which is exposed to a campaign of international airstrikes, particularly after Paris and the bombing of a Russian aircraft in the Egyptian Sinai attack.”

Monitors later named two victims and 3-6 victims unnamed, including four children

In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they may have been responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Okay Mahmoud
Child named by SNHR killed
Mohammad Al Ma’ayouf /Raqqa
Adult named by SNHR killed
unnamed child 1
Child killed
unnamed child 2
Child killed
unnamed child 3
Child killed
unnamed child 4
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 12
  • (5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child victims of an alleged Russian airstrike on Ar Raqqah, November 26th (via SN4HR)
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia reports that “On November 23-26, aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces performed 134 combat sorties engaging 449 objects in the Aleppo, Damascus, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Raqqah and Deir-ez-Zor provinces.”

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV007784
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • November 26, 2015, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2882/CS151 37SEV007784

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 12
  • (5 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, US-led Coalition, Syrian Regime

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI147

Incident date

November 26, 2015

Location

جامع خالد بن الوليد, Fallujah, near Khalid Bin Al Waleed mosque, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.338889, 43.746667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources in Fallujah alleged that Coalition aircraft bombed a house with three families inside near Khalid Bin Al Waleed mosque, killing at least 12 and wounding six more – mostly children and women.

The reported 11.30pm airstrike caused multiple casualties, with many victims buried under a collapsed building. The Baghdad Centre for Human Rights said that both Coalition and Iraq government aircraft had participated in the attack, while all other sources pointed only to the Coalition.

Jasim Al Assal, a member of the local provincial council, complained that “the desire by local people to be free from Daesh terrorists does not justify inaccuracy by the international coalition, who must spare civilians including children and women in Fallujah.”

In July 2017 the Coalition said it had classed the event as non credible on grounds of insufficient evidence of civilian harm: “Nov. 26, 2015, near Fallujah, Iraq, via Airwars report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

However, given the well-chronicled nature of the event, and confirmed Coalition strikes in the vicinity, Airwars will continue to list this event as likely – while seeking additional clarification from the Coalition.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdarahman Ahmed Ibrahim
11 years old male killed
Ahmad Kamal Ibrahim
12 years old male killed
Abdarahman Lance Tawfiq
1 years old male killed
Ruasi Kamal Ibrahim
12 years old male killed
Hmsh Kamal Ibrahim
4 years old male killed
Rana Omar Khalil
2 years old female killed
Fatimah Tawfiq Shafi
37 years old female killed
Abrahim Ahmed Ibrahim
3 years old male killed
Omar Khalil
32 years old male killed
Wife of Omar Khalil
27 years old female killed
Ayman Hamid Abdul Jabbar
7 years old male killed
Hamid Abdul Jabbar Abdullah
38 years old male killed
Yousef Ahmed Ibrahim
3 years old male injured
Asia Kamal Ibrahim
1 years old female injured
Ahmed Ibrahim Ghaith
10 years old male injured
Huda Khamis Farhan
12 years old female injured
Alaa Hamid
13 years old male injured
Aqil Hamid Abdul Jabbar
10 years old male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 17
  • (8 children2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Child victims of alleged Coalition strike at Fallujah, November 26th 2015 (via Iraqi Revolution)
  • Omar Khalil, victim of a reoprted Coalition strike at Fallujah, November 26th 2015

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Child victims of an alleged Russian airstrike on Ar Raqqah, November 26th (via SN4HR)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Yousif Ahmed Ibrahim Hussein (via Iraqi Revolution)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ibrahim Ahmed Ibrahim (via Iraqi Revolution)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mustafa Ahmed Ibrahim (via Iraqi Revolution)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Martyr Abdulrahman Anas (via Iraqi Revolution)
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Fallujah, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition confirms carrying out strikes in the near vicinity on November 26th-27th 2015: “Near Fallujah, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL rocket rail, an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL improvised explosive device (IED) cache, and an ISIL command and control node.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 17
  • (8 children2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI148

Incident date

December 1, 2015

Location

القيارة, Qayyarah, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.7977836, 43.2935143 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple civilian casualties were claimed in Qayyarah after the Coalition was accused of bombing civilian houses in the town.

Face Iraq reported that seven children and an elderly woman died in the event, which it said destroyed six houses in the vicinity of the Khader mosque (which some sources said had also been destroyed). Three images were also published showing the damage.

Shafaaq also said the incident was a Coalition strike – but that ten civilians from the same family were injured rather than killed.

Local MP Ahmed al-Jubouri later condemened the attack, saying the Coalition had carried out the strike “without any coordination either with the Iraqi central government, local government, or the Mosul operational command.“

In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 8
  • (0–7 children0–1 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Six houses were destroyed in an alleged Coalition strike at Qayyarah, Iraq on December 1st (via Face Iraq)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLE458629
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • December 1, 2015, in Qayyarah, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2863/CI148 38SLE458629

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

No Coalition strikes were publicly reported in the vicinity of Qayyarah for either November 30th-December 1st or December 1st-2nd 2015.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 8
  • (0–7 children0–1 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI149

Incident date

December 2, 2015

Location

راوة, Rawa, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

34.473919, 41.915991 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was alleged killed in a claimed Coalition airstrike at Rawa.

According to Heet News a market and civilian homes were among the structures hit. Most media placed the death toll at one, though some reports claimed fatalities were as high as seven.

In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Images of the strike's aftermath
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Iraqi Revolution)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SGU678186
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • December 2, 2015, in Rawa, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2865/CI149 37SGU678186

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

While no Coalition strikes were reported for Rawa, heavy Coalition action was reported at nearby Ramadi for December 1st-2nd 2015: “Near Ramadi, nine strikes struck three ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL mortar position, 10 ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL tactical vehicle, five ISIL heavy machine guns, two ISIL RPG positions, an ISIL tunnel, an ISIL anti-tank position, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), an ISIL staging location, two ISIL buildings, an ISIL command and control node, cratered an ISIL-used road, and denied ISIL access to terrain.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI037

Incident date

December 3, 2015

Location

حميدات, Humaidat, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.40389, 42.9789 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children were reportedly killed in an alleged Coalition strike on the town of Hemidiat to the west of Mosul.

According to Shafaqna and others, the strike hit the commercial district of the town: “The death of two children has beeen reported from an aerial bombardment by international Coalition aircraft west of Mosul. Early detection of a local source, on Thursday, reports the death of two children in an aerial bombardment by planes of the so-called international alliance which targeted Hmeidat west of the city of Mosul.”

In its monthly civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year, the Coalition assessed the event as ‘non credible’, noting that “February 3, 2015, in Humaidat, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2781/CI037 38SLF188306”

Coalition officials also provided Airwars with a geolocation to within 100 metres of the area reviewed.

However, Airwars had initially wrongly placed this event on February 3rd 2015 on its website. This has now been corrected, and the Coalition has re-opened the incident for review.

In the first of their March 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Location for Hemedat village (Humaidat    حميداتx) 36.40389 42.9789

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Humaidat, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF187306
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Mar 25, 2020
  • Dec 5, 2019

  • February 3, 2015, in Humaidat, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2781/CI037 38SLF188306

  • Dec. 3, 2015, in Humaidat, Iraq, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2781/CI037 38SLF187306

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reported one strike nearby for December 2nd-3rd: “Near Mosul, two strikes destroyed an ISIL vehicle.“

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected target
    ISIS

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI150

Incident date

December 5, 2015

Location

الرمادي, Ramadi, Warrar, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.429722, 43.277222 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources claimed that at least five civilians – mostly children and women from two displaced families – were killed and six to 12 wounded after an aerial bombing of their home in the Warrar area of Ramadi.

Al Samaria quoted what it said was an anonymous source in the Daesh-occupied city: “Two missiles from military aircraft landed today on two houses in downtown Ramadi, killing five people, including women and children, and wounding six others, including women and children… The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, and the bodies to the forensic medicine department.”

A number of graphic photos depicted dead and injured children.

In a posting since deleted, Al Fallujah News described the attack as the result of “government shelling,” and also posted video of a 2am attack on the city which it said was by government forces.

In its July 2017 casualty report, the Coalition said it had classed the event as non credible on grounds of available evidence: “Dec. 5, 2015, near Ramadi, Iraq, via Airwars report: After a review of available information it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

However given the confirmed proximity of Coalition strikes on the day, Airwars is seeking additional clarification.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (1–4 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Images of the supposed victims and the aftermath of the attack
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Ramadi, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reported continued heavy strikes at Ramadi for December 4th-5th 2015: “Near Ramadi, seven strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL bunker, two ISIL VBIEDs, 15 ISIL fighting positions, 12 ISIL buildings, three ISIL light machine guns, three ISIL RPGs, an ISIL anti-air artillery piece, an ISIL assembly area, five ISIL staging areas, an ISIL weapons cache, and denied ISIL access to terrain.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (1–4 children3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS153

Incident date

December 6, 2015

Location

دير الزور‎, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

35.3333335, 40.1499999 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman and her two children were reported killed in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Dayr ez Zawr city.

Reuters cited the Syrian Observatory as reporting that “In Deir al-Zor city, another air strike overnight killed a woman and two of her children.”

In comments relating to the previous incident, an anonymous US official told AP that “Radar shows Russian bombers making seven passes over the city of Deir el-Zour dropping munitions.”

In their January 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV045106
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jan 3, 2020

  • December 6, 2015, in Deir Ez Zor, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2884/CS153 37SFV045106

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reported that for December 6th-7th 2015 “Near Dayr Ar Zawr, four strikes struck four ISIL oil well-heads.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS154

Incident date

December 7, 2015

Location

الهول, Al Hawl, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.390223, 41.149297 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

As many as 47 civilians were reported killed and 17 injured in an alleged US Apache helicopter and fast jet attack on the village of al Khan near al Hawl.

Locals were involved in an altercation with Islamic State militants according to McClatchy, with Coalition aircraft attacking a convoy of reinforcements as they entered the village.

According to local activist Siraj Al Hasskawi, six families were caught up in the attack whom he named as “the families of Awad Al Hadeed, Ayed Al Hadeed, Ali Al Samman, Ibrahim Al Abd, Abbas Al Salman and the family of Al Abboud.”

According to the Global Post, the airstrikes took place in the early hours of December 7th. It cited an eyewitness in the village named as ‘Abu Khalil’:“It was past midnight. We were sleeping. We were suddenly wakened by a huge explosion. The house shook. The windows shattered. There was shrapnel in the walls. I ran out and saw my neighbor’s house completely destroyed. He told me, ‘Abu Khalil, I managed to rescue my wife and son but I can’t find my six-month-old baby. Help me!’ I could hear people calling from underneath the rubble. My neighbor’s mother was crying out. She’s 70. I pulled her out, along with a boy and his mother. They were all OK. My mother and my aunt both came running to help dig through the rubble. But while we did this, a helicopter — an Apache — came overhead. It fired. They had machineguns with explosive bullets. I was hit. I still have the shrapnel in my body. I fell into the hole made by the airstrike. That was what saved me. The helicopter circled round again and fired a second time. My mother and aunt were killed. The woman and her son I’d rescued were killed. Everyone but me was killed.

“Three powerful rockets were used in the first airstrike. They left a two-meter deep hole in the ground. Anyone could see the hole until the Kurdish militia filled it. They don’t let anyone go near the place or take pictures. Nineteen people died in that one house. It was the Americans. For the past year-and-a-half, the only aircraft that fly over our area have been American.”

According to reports, Kurdish forces allegedly prevented the filming of civilian victims at the local hospital. Al Jazeera also cited local Arab sources as claiming that “these [Kurdish] forces deliberately give incorrect coordinates to the Coalition in order to target and empty of their populations specific villages – and to prevent the return of the displaced.”

The Union of Hassakah Youth later condemened the incident: “We call on the United Nations and Amnesty International to carry out full investigations with the utmost urgency to expose the circumstances of this crime and to make those who committed it take full responsibility according to international law and the declarations of the UN.”

CENTCOM told reporters that it was assessing the claim, adding that “If the information is found to be credible, we’ll conduct an investigation, and we’ll release the results of that investigation.”

A major NGO report into the incident issued in October 2016 noted: “Amnesty International is concerned that, despite evidence indicating multiple civilian casualties, CENTCOM has not acknowledged them. The attack appears to have been indiscriminate and may have resulted from a misidentification of a military objective. Even if a military objective was present in the vicinity, the heavy loss of civilian life suggests a failure to take necessary precautions or a decision to proceed with an attack which was foreseeably disproportionate.”

The Syrian Network named forty dead civilians.

A slightly different list from the Hassakah Union gave the following names:
Ali Sleiman Al Abdallah and three children Bayan, Mohammed and a baby. Ali’s wife Nagiya– reported killed by some sources – was described by others as having lost a leg.
Abbas al Sleiman, his wife and 2 or more children
The wife of Mahmoud Al Aboud and their four children.
The wife of Hamid Al Aboud and two daughters, one named Rim.
Eid Al Shaker’s family of five people, including children.
The mother of Ibrahim Al Aboud and his wife and his two children.
The two wives of Mahmoud Al Abboud and his four children.
Five members of the family of Abbas Al Eid
Ten members of the family of A’ed Al Hadid killed or injured
Awwad Al Hadid, his wife and their son Ali and his wife and their granddaughter Isslam.
Mohammad Ali Salman Al Abdallah, a child, also later reportedly died of his injuries.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (8)

Ayed Hadeed Al Hassan
56 years old male nicknamed Abu Salah killed
Qama Eid Al Ali
45 years old female Ayed's wife killed
Salah Ayed Hadeed Al Hassan
26 years old male killed
Mohamad Ayed Hadeed Al Hassan
23 years old male killed
Fatima Ayed Hadeed Al Hassan,
17 years old female killed
Salman Ayed Hadeed Al Hassan
15 years old male killed
Amal Ayed Hedeed Al Hassan,
3 years old female killed
Alaa Ayed Hadeed Al Hassan,
1 years old female killed

Family members (9)

Awwad Hadeed Al Hassan
60 years old male In Hassakah Union he is listed as killed with is wife, their son Ali and his wife and their granddaughter Isslam killed
Dulla Al Imaier
45 years old female killed
Mohamad Awwad Al Hadeed
23 years old male killed
Ahmad Awwad Al Hadeed
21 years old male killed
Turfa Awwad Al Hadeed,
16 years old female killed
Ayed Awwad Al Hadeed
12 years old male killed
Hassan Awwad Al Hadeed
4 years old male killed
Rahaf Awwad Al Hadeed
7 years old female killed
Jameela Awwad Al Hadeed
3 years old female killed

Family members (4)

Iman Al Batan
27 years old female Mohamad [or Mahmoud] Al Aboud Al Khleef’s wife. SN4HR names three children killed with her. Hassakah Union says she was killed with four of her children. killed
Atheer Mohamad Al Aboud Al Khleef
4 years old female killed
Abdul Hay Mohamad Al Aboud Al Khleef
3 years old male killed
Abdul Razak Mohamad Al Aboud Al Khleef
2 months old baby years old male killed

Family members (4)

Abdul Razak Mohamad Al Aboud Al Khleef
27 years old female Hamad [or Hamid] Al Aboud Al Khleef’s wife, SN4HR lists her dead along with three children. Hassakah Union lists her as having been killed with two daughters one of whom is called Rim killed
Aboud Hamad Al Aboud Al Khleef
6 years old male killed
Ibrahim Hamad Al Aboud Al Khleef
4 years old male killed
Tayseer Hamad Al Aboud Al Khleef
2 years old male killed

Family members (3)

Kamoura Knash Al Hameed
25 years old female also known as Jihan, wife of Ibrahim Al Aboud al Khleef killed
Mohamad Ibrahim Al Aboud Al Khleef
2 years old male killed
Hamad Ibrahim Al Aboud Al Khleef
1 years old male killed

Family members (3)

Ibrahim Abed Al Najras
30 years old male killed
Farja Asaad Al Najras
23 years old female Ibrahim al Najras' wife killed
Zahra Saleh Al Najras
70 years old female killed

Family members (4)

Ali Jassem Al Abdeed
38 years old male killed
Suhial Ali Jassem Al Abeed
9 years old male killed
Sidra Ali Jassem Al Abeed
4 years old female killed
Tasneem Ali Jassem Al Abeed
4 years old female killed

The victims were named as:

Salman Eid Al Hassan
32 years old male killed
Faysal Eid Al Hassan
23 years old male killed
Abbas Suliman Al Abdullah,
38 years old male Hassakah Union reports him killed along with his wife and 2 or more children killed
Wadha
65 years old female A displaced woman from al Houl town killed
Rouz
50 years old female A displaced woman from al Houl town killed
Mohammad Ali Salman Al Abdallah
Child male later reportedly died of his injuries. killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    40 – 47
  • (19–20 children9 women11 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    17–30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Ali Sleiman Al Abdallah and his children, killed in a reported Coalition strike December 7th 2015 (via Hassakah Youth Union)
  • Abbas Al Sleiman, reported killed with his wife and children on December 7th at (via Hassakah Youth)
  • The rubble of al Khleef family home. [Via: SN4HR report dated 13th/02/2016]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Very graphic video showing charred bodie of victims of the alleged coalition shelling near al Hawl. [Via: SN4HR report dated 13th/02/2016]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

The Coalition reported that for December 6th-7th 2015 “Near Al Hawl, four strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed nine ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), and three ISIL vehicles.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    40 – 47
  • (19–20 children9 women11 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    17–30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (28) [ collapse]